The Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) has introduced its SME Report – a new streamlined reporting process to help small-to-medium-enterprises report on their sustainability progress as efficiently as possible.
Accessible to APCO’s SME Members, the new process aims to reduce the reporting workload for SMEs and support them on their sustainable packaging journey.
Brooke Donnelly, CEO of APCO, said: “The average small business owner has a lot on their plate so it is critical that we support them however we can. We know time is such a valuable resource for them, which was a key driver for us in streamlining the reporting process. SMEs can now more easily fulfil their responsibility for managing their packaging waste, while continuing to identify ways to improve their overall approach to managing it in a way that brings value to their business as well as the environment.”
According to Donnelly, the new reporting process will go from over 50 possible questions, to a targeted 15 questions that drive real sustainability value for SME’s.
"It is estimated that this will reduce the time required to complete the reporting task by up to 80 per cent," she said.
The recent updates to the Packaging Sustainability Framework and APCO Members’ reporting requirements, which come into effect for the 2022 Reporting Round, not only benefits SMEs, but organisations of all sizes.
The APCO Annual Reporting process provides a consistent and transparent pathway for APCO Brand Owner Members to assess and track packaging sustainability over time. By streamlining its entire annual reporting process, existing and new APCO Members will find it easier and more efficient for complete.
According to COSBOA, the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia, many small businesses do not have the time, resources and expertise to be across the myriad of legislative and regulatory change that affects them on an ongoing basis. Small business owners, who often must carry out a variety of tasks ranging from sustainability to human resources, face significant time constraints and reporting can be a significant burden on time.
Abigail Forsyth, co-founder and managing director of KeepCup, a company known for its sustainability ethos, said: “The journey to reduce impact is without end. Technology changes, processes improve, and new materials become available. And most importantly customers are demanding change. Wise businesses are putting sustainability and the circular economy at the centre of their commercial strategy.”
Other SMEs, like Sancell, are acutely aware of the impact its products can have on the environment. As one of Australia’s leading plastics manufactures, waste reduction and waste minimisation is always at the fore of Sancell’s manufacturing and product development processes.
Doug Parkinson, CEO of Sancell, shares some insights for SMEs starting on their sustainable packaging journey: “Ensure that what you are changing to is authentic, fit-for-purpose and achieves real and measurable benefits for the environment. And, most importantly, avoid the greenwash.”
Although APCO Members have not yet reported against the SME Report, Donnelly said that feedback during the engagement and consultation period has helped all stakeholders to develop a deeper understanding of the resources and support required for SME’s.
"Further it has kick-started an important conversation about the important role of SMEs in the collective approach of industry and government to help Australia reach the 2025 National Packaging Targets and what that can look like as we move forward," she added.
With more than 1,500 Australian businesses already part of the APCO community, Membership provides organisations with support to improve their business performance through driving packaging sustainability to achieve Australia’s 2025 National Packaging Targets.
To become an APCO Member, go to https://apco.org.au or email apco@apco.org.au
